Student Conservation Association (The)

Address:	224 South Michigan Ave., Suite 400 Chicago, IL 60604
County:	Cook
Phone:	(312)239-1661
Web Page:	https://www.theSCA.org
Mission:	SCA’s mission is to build the next generation of conservation leaders and inspire lifelong stewardship of the environment and communities by engaging young people in hands-on service to the land.
Description:	Here in Chicago, SCA—which launched the American youth conservation movement nearly 60 years ago—is spearheading a new drive to engage young people in hands-on service in the very neighborhoods they call home. With an active focus on under-served populations, we provide students from all backgrounds with empowering opportunities to preserve city parks, explore the local ecology, and discover their own potential. Independent studies confirm that SCA members gain greater self-esteem and direction, enhanced critical-thinking and focus, and improved fitness and stamina. Additionally, as students advance along a continuum of conservation experiences, they build the skills and insights necessary to lead effectively, practice lifelong stewardship and succeed in their careers. SCA fielded its first community conservation program in Chicago in 2010. The SCA Chicago Community Program provides year-round conservation opportunities divided into two seasons: school-year programs (running October through May) and summer programs (running July through August). The Chicago Community Program offers both volunteer and paid service opportunities. Volunteer programs occur on weekends, while paid service programs run Monday-Friday in the summertime, but require evening and weekend participation during the school year. Members serve at sites in and around Chicago. Participants build trails and restore habitat while exploring green career opportunities, building leadership skills, and learning about the local environment through environmental education field trips, outdoor recreation, and service projects. Following their initial service, some SCA members return to lead the programs on which they once volunteered; others progress to become interns with the Friends of the Forest Preserves, Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, or distant locations like Yellowstone and Acadia. And with seven in 10 SCA alumni employed or studying in the conservation field, their in?uence will reach across local governments, businesses and communities for many years to come.